My favorite part is toward the end. Up till then they’d been running/swimming the full length of the wall and it was a very simple game. Then one of them (I think the child, but it happens so fast it’s hard to be sure) decides to increase the complexity of the game by changing directions in the middle, and the other one (I think it’s the otter) changes directions almost instantly to follow. Imagination on the part of the direction changer and amazingly quick reactions on the part of the follower.

This may be some sort of prey-tracking instinct on the part of the otter, but if it is, I don’t want to know. I want to believe it’s pure play.

Oh, I think it’s totally play! I think it’s the kid that changes direction, trying to trick the otter. Now, the otter may have superfine reflexes because they need them to hunt, but they are also playful and intelligent animals.

Otters are very friendly and playful (and CUTE of course). I was scuba diving in Monterey the other day, and this little otter swam around me, looked back at me in the eyes for a good second or two and then kept on minding his business.

Probably he was saying “could you please stop making those bubbles? thaanks!” but oh he was a cutie.